Research areas
The xenofish platform uses the zebrafish model to study biological mechanisms and contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Production of eggs, embryos, and adults
Zebrafish eggs, embryos, and adults are produced under controlled conditions to provide reliable, standardized material suitable for the needs of scientific research.
General toxicity tests
Each study begins with the assessment of the compound’s acute toxicity to determine its median lethal concentration (LC50) and its ability to induce lethal phenotypes.
Angiogenesis Model
Using transgenic lines expressing fluorescent markers in the vascular endothelium (e.g., Tg(fli1:eGFP)), it is possible to visualize and quantify vascular modulation in vivo.
Tumor growth models and screening of drugs and compounds
To evaluate the effect of compounds or treatments on tumor progression, metastatic dissemination, angiogenesis, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment, we can:
- Implant fluorescent tumor cells (xenografts) into zebrafish embryos to monitor tumor proliferation, invasion, and vascularization in real time.
- Assess the antitumor efficacy of molecules at different doses.
Inflammatory model
Using specific transgenic lines, such as Tg(mpeg1:eGFP), it is possible to visualize fluorescent macrophages in various contexts:
- Normal development of the innate immune system;
- Response to tissue injury (wound or acute inflammation models);
- Recruitment to tumors or sites of infection;
- Response to immunomodulatory agents or environmental pollutants.
Tissue regeneration model
All organs in zebrafish are capable of regeneration.
This regeneration can be assessed in the presence of environmental or pharmacological factors (pollutants, diabetes, drugs, medicinal plants).
Example: the caudal fin during regeneration.
Genetic disease modeling
To modulate gene expression in zebrafish, two approaches exist:
- Knockdown (KD): Through the injection of antisense morpholinos, gene expression is temporarily reduced from the earliest embryonic stages or in the adult caudal fin. This strategy allows rapid analysis of gene function without permanently modifying the genome.
- Knockout (KO): Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, genes can be permanently inactivated by introducing targeted mutations. This makes it possible to generate stable KO lines for long-term functional studies.
To implement this technology, we collaborate closely with the CRISp’EDIT platform.
